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Chapter 65

Tee POV

Standing almost frozen in the middle of the waiting room at Dr. Heartland's office, I slide my trembling hand into my pocket, but I don't want to pull my phone out. What am I going to do if I don't want this phone call? Can I unsee who it is once I look? A sense of dread washes over me.

My heart hammers against my chest as my phone stops ringing for only a few seconds before it resumes again.

"Tee? Is something wrong? You look really pale."

I look towards the door, which leads back to the session rooms. Tae is standing there with a concerned look, but if I look closely, I can still spot a trace of his scared expression from earlier. I open my mouth and go to say something, but nothing comes out.

Ring...ring...ring...

I flinch a little and rub my finger along the side of my phone, still in my pocket.

Tae catapults forward and engulfs me in his arms. "What happened? You were just going to the agency to get our car and then come here. Did something happen along the way to make you like this?"

Tears well up in my eyes as I stare into his loving brown eyes. I would give anything right now to tell him everything, but every time I open my mouth, nothing comes out. No matter how much I try to say something.

"Shhh... It is alright. I'm here now." He kisses my forehead, and I wish I could snap my fingers and have us instantly teleport back to our apartment.

Tae looks over his shoulder at Dr. Heartland. "Is there anything you can do for him? He is trembling."

Ring...ring...ring...

Why won't that stupid thing stop ringing?

While still within Tae's comforting arms, he takes my phone out of my pocket, but he doesn't look to see who it is. Instead, he turns it off.

When the ringing finally stops, I breathe a small sigh of relief and almost collapse onto my amazing boyfriend.

A few people scurry close to me as Dr. Heartland says, "Here is something for you, Tee. Take them and go home. I don't want you doing anything else but resting. I'll check up on both you and Tae tomorrow to make sure you're fine."

Like a robot, I follow his commands and take the pills the nurse hands me.

The doctor continues, "Tae, take him home. Are you safe to drive? If not, I'll take the two of you home and I'll have a colleague drive your car there."

I sink my face into the side of Tae's neck and nod. If Tae is well enough to drive, I still don't want him to, and I don't plan on letting him go anytime soon.

Tae kisses the top of my head and tightens his arms around me. "I think that is probably the best option. Tee is still trembling, and I don't think he is going to let me go any time soon, either."

The doctor pats my shoulder. "We need to go to the underground parking. Luckily, it is secure and no one will see you or Tae. I'm not sure what has caused this, but the medicine should kick in soon. It might relax you too much and make you sleepy."

He turns towards his nurse, standing by the door to the session rooms. "Make a patient record for Tee and mark it confidential. Please mark down how much medicine we have given him."

She replies, "Yes, doctor."

He then turns back towards Tae and me. "I need to go get a few things since I'm not coming back. Wait here for me." He spins around and dashes through the door.

Tae's steady heartbeat is like a lullaby, and my eyelids grow heavy.

I jolt and nearly jump out backwards when the doctor comes back and chimes, "Okay. Let's go."

A fog moves in and clouds my thoughts. I want nothing more than to snuggle up against Tae's broad chest and hold him tight.

***

Tae POV

The doctor walks out the office's front door and motions for us to follow.

Tee takes one step and almost collapses onto the floor.

My breath hitches, and I quickly scoop him up in my arms, following right behind the doctor. Once outside the doctor's office, instead of heading towards the building's main entrance, the doctor turns the opposite direction.

He glances back over his shoulder as we near the end of the hallway. "The private parking entrance is this way."

I nod and follow right behind him. I tighten my hold on Tee, making sure he doesn't slip out of my grasp.

My heart aches seeing him like this.

Without anyone noticing, we secretly make our way to the doctor's car and onto the road, heading back towards my apartment.

In the back seat, Tee falls asleep on my shoulder within a few minutes of the car ride. I stare down at his gorgeous face but the slight creases along his face pull at my heart. What happened to him to be like this?

Gently, I brush his dark bangs, which have fallen down against his eyes, off to the side.

From the front seat, Dr. Heartland asks, "Is he out already?"

I nod and keep my gaze on my frightened boyfriend. "Yeah. I don't know what has him all worked up, but it has drained him."

He shakes his head. "Not all of it is whatever happened to him. Some of it is the medicine I gave him earlier. It kicks in fast, especially if the person is already worn out. He will probably sleep for a while now. You'll have to carry him up to the apartment. I'll follow along, too. I need to take his vital once you lay him down."

He pauses for a moment. "How are you feeling? Are you still having any signs of panicking or being afraid?"

I shake my head and look at the back of his head. "No. I'm fine."

The doctor lets out a faint chuckle. "He truly is your medicine."

A smile bubbles up on me as I nod. "Yes, he is. I don't know what I would have done if it weren't for him. I'm might have gone insane."

There is no might. I know for a fact I would have gone crazy if I didn't have him.

The car falls into silence as the doctor zooms along the road. The only thing rolling through my mind now is how much longer will it be until we are home?

Published February 13, 2023